CMTA 2025 FESTIVAL NEWS
Details and instructions below. To register your students, use:
Application Form (Strings/Wind/Voice ONLY)
Application Form (Piano/Organ /Harp) & Payment.
Pease fill out one form per student or ensemble and follow instructions regarding online payment for your class. You may pay for one or more students with the link. Prompt payment is required in order for your class to be scheduled. After registrations are processed, teachers will receive information regarding their class schedule, teacher instructions, volunteer time assignment, and rating sheets.
PIANO/ORGAN/HARP CHAIR: Joyce Polifka (joycepolifka@gmail.com; 719-465-4993) DATE: February 15, 2025 - Online Deadline: January 19, 2025
STRING/WIND/VOICE CHAIR: Erin Flynn (erinannflynn@gmail.com; 540-271-7475) and Stanley Beckwith (Stanley.beckwith@gmail.com; 585-455-4145) DATE: February 8, 2025 - Registration Opens January 8, 2025 - Online Deadline for registration: January 20, 2025.
The Instrumental Festival location will be at University Baptist Church, 1223 W Main Street, Charlottesville, while piano and harp location will be at First Presbyterian Church, 500 Park Street. Charlottesville.
The CMTA Festival provides students of all ages and ability levels the opportunity to receive feedback from qualified judges and share their music before a small, live audience. Students receive ratings and comments from 2 judges as well as a certificate of participation. All students earn a medal for every 3 years of participation (the years do not have to be consecutive). This event is open to piano, organ, string, wind, harp and voice students.
FEE: $25 Solo and $30 for Ensemble ($50 for nonmember solo and $60 for nonmember ensemble)
Eligibility: Any student of CMTA members, all piano, organ, string, wind, harp and voice students.. Contact chairs for non-member policy.
FINANCIAL AID: For students of CMTA members needing financial assistance, the teacher can choose to collect either a partial fee or no fee from the parents. The teacher will pay the student's normal registration fee upon registering their class, then submit a statement to the treasurer for reimbursement for the amount they themselves paid for that student. The teacher can decide what is best to tell parents regarding the fee. If the teacher thinks struggling parents may be reluctant to ask for or take assistance, the teacher can let parents know there is scholarship money available for worthy students. This assistance applies to accompanying fees, also. To preserve privacy, teachers do not need to provide names of students to the treasurer when asking for reimbursement.
PERFORMANCE FORMAT: Group recitals, approximately 1 hour in length. Performance Procedure instructions provided separately. More website updates to come.
Teacher requirements: Teachers entering 5 or more students are required to donate up to 4 hours of volunteer time towards the festival. Teachers with fewer than 5 students must donate up to 3 hours. In a live event, the greatest need is judging and monitoring. Teachers who cannot be present for monitor assignments MUST find their own substitute.
Repertoire & Divisions & Registration
• ELEMENTARY: students play 2 pieces (at least 16 measures) of contrasting styles and different composers. Performing an 8-measure piece with repeats is acceptable at this level. Time limit: 5 min
• INTERMEDIATE & ADVANCED: students play 2 pieces of contrasting style from 2 historical periods (simplified arrangements not allowed for piano, instrumental teachers should contact the chair); 1 movement equals 1 piece; unnecessary repeats should be skipped. Intermediate time limit: 8 min, Advanced time limit: 15 min
• ADULT (POST HIGH SCHOOL) COMMENT ONLY: students perform for comments only. Please indicate on the student’s application if a private performance setting is needed. Otherwise, adult students will be scheduled in a recital with other adults. Rating is optional. Elementary students play 2 pieces of contrasting style; Intermediate and advanced students play 2 pieces of contrasting styles from 2 historical periods. Time Limit: 15 min
• DUET/ENSEMBLE: students play 1 or 2 pieces. If performing 2 selections at the intermediate level or higher, they should be of contrasting style and from different historical periods. Time limits are the same as in the solo category. Piano Concerto/Duo Performers: accompaniment is required and may be played by the teacher or someone else of the performer's choosing.
• INSTRUMENTAL music composed with accompaniment should be performed with accompaniment. String and wind students should be accompanied by a piano, but teachers may make accommodations if they feel they are neccesary. Contact the chair with questions.
Scores: Students should bring 1 ORIGINAL SCORE (either published or legally downloaded). One photocopy for the judging table is acceptable if the student is playing from the original score. Photocopies will be discarded after the performance. ILLEGAL COPIES ARE NOT ALLOWED!
Memorization: Pianists in the SOLO category must perform at least one of their two pieces from memory. Memorization is encouraged in instrumental (non-piano), vocal, and adult divisions but not required.
Medal Credit: All students earn a medal for every 3 years of participation (the years do not have to be consecutive). See Festival Awards Catch-up Options below.
Contact the Festival Chair with any questions.
Festival Awards Catch-Up Options
Keyboard Performance Room Procedures
Keyboard Performer Instructions
Instrumental Recital Procedures
Instrumental Performance Procedures
University Baptist Church map and parking - NEW
Festival Repertoire - Elementary and Intermediate
Festival Repertoire - Advanced